Township paving the way for new Scugog Island access road

Scugog approves pre-engineering work

Reader Road and Hwy. 7A intersection

Celia Klemenz / Metroland

SCUGOG ISLAND -- Scugog has decided to move ahead with preliminary work needed to construct a second access road for Scugog Island. On December 17, councillors voted in favour of spending $76,000 to begin pre-engineering work. December 18, 2012

Township paving the way for new Scugog Island access road

Celia Klemenz / Metroland

SCUGOG ISLAND -- Scugog has decided to move ahead with preliminary work needed to construct a second access road for Scugog Island. On December 17, councillors voted in favour of spending $76,000 to begin pre-engineering work. December 18, 2012

SCUGOG ISLAND -- Preliminary work on a second access road for Scugog Island is expected to begin after councillors approved a pre-engineering contract on Monday evening.

Scugog has long sought to add a secondary access road to Scugog Island, which currently only has one roadway leading on and off the peninsula -- Island Road.

At the Dec. 17 council session, councillors voted in favour of spending a maximum of $75,000 for Chisholm, Fleming and Associates to carry out pre-engineering work.

The Township completed an environmental assessment for the project in 2007, which determined the best course of action was to construct the secondary access road in two parts.

This will give us detailed information on the amou

The first segment would be the south connection, providing access to Hwy. 7A. As part of that work, a new road section would be connected to the north-south section of Ashbridge Road, off Head Road.

The second segment would connect Ma Brown's Road on a new right-of-way to Pine Point Road.

"This will give us detailed information on the amount of property needed to build the south end of the project," Ian Roger, Scugog's director of public works and parks, told councillors.

That information, he noted in a report to councillors, would allow the municipality to begin property acquisition as funds are available as well as have the design ready in case a new government infrastructure funding program is announced to help cover construction costs.

The design would be completed to 60 per cent, which would allow all property issues to be addressed with the Ministry of Transportation and local landowners, added Mr. Roger.

It would not be detailed to 100 per cent, he explained, because it is not known when the project will proceed.

No time frame for the pre-engineering work was provided in the report.

Chris Hall is a reporter covering Scugog Township for Metroland Media Group’s Durham Region Division. He can be reached at
CHall@durhamregion.com
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